Duffle and Compass

Botswana

From the lush Okavango Delta to the Kalahari Desert, Botswana offers unique beauty, incredible game populations, wonderful birding and a variety of activities including horseback safaris, boating in the Delta, quad biking on the salt pans, walking with the San Bushmen and hanging out with the meerkats

Because of the unique water and desert options, we generally suggest an itinerary that gives you a bit of both. Fly-in safaris make transfer times between camps short and easy. And you get a bird’s eye view along the way.

Botswana is about the size of the state of Texas and sparsely populated. Nearly 40% of Botswana has been set aside as massive private reserves and national parks. Shortly after independence in 1966, diamonds were discovered in the Kalahari and the economy got a jump-start. Today, Botswana is considered one of Africa's success stories with a growing economy, political and social stability. The government has encouraged high quality, low impact tourism and the industry now employs 45% of the people who live in the northern part of the country. English is the official language and Setswana is the most widely spoken African language. More than half the population is of people of the Bantu heritage. Botswana has a high literacy rate and education programs are offered to both boys and girls.

Botswana Highlights

Experiencing this unique wetland paradise in the midst of the Kalahari Desert is the best reason to visit Botswana. The Okavango Delta is a large inland delta system that drains into the sands of the Kalahari drawing wildlife year-round. The view of the Delta from the skies above as you fly into your camp airstrip is an awesome one. When water levels permit, you will be able to safari by boat and mokoro in addition to game drives.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is a relic of one of the world's largest super-lakes, which dried up thousands of years ago. Some say these shores were the setting for the mysterious transition from ape to man. This prehistoric lake basin area feels like it's out of a film, complete with shimmering mirages in the heat of the sun as you scan the endless horizon. Although nothing grows on the saltpans, the areas around them are transformed into lakes and grasslands during the seasonal rains. This is a wonderful area for birding and observing meerkats, brown hyena, spring hare and jackal. The giant baobabs here have served as directional signposts for centuries.

Photo Credit: Carol Oken

Selinda, Linyanti and Kwando Reserves are large private concessions concentrated around permanent rivers. In contrast to the watery Okavango Delta, this scenic area boasts grasslands, forests and woodlands along with the marshy areas near the river. There are no fences, so animals move freely.

Chobe National Park features a large portion of Botswana's elephant population and they are known for their legendary size.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) dominates the center of Botswana and was intended as a sanctuary for the San Bushman. Until the late 1980s very few visitors came here. Mark and Delia Owens, a young American couple who came to Deception Valley in 1974 spent seven years living in this unexplored area. Their best-selling novel, "Cry of the Kalahari" is passionate accounting of their adventures. CKGR is a great choice for a desert safari experience for those interested in a remote setting, and the opportunity to encounter the San Bushman. The San, whose ancestors have been in this area for 30,000 years, have a rich cultural life of music, dance, art, crafts and healing with their gatherings from this area.

Accommodations

We work with a select few safari outfitters, lodges, and camps in Botswana. These are Duffle & Compass’ preferred providers. We look forward to introducing you to the ones that will be just right for you.

Moremi Game Reserve

This is the heart of the Okavango Delta. There are vast tracts of pristine wilderness here that afford exceptional game viewing.

Photo: Crookes & Jackson

Mombo

Mombo is located on the northern tip of Chief’s Island and offers arguably the best game viewing in Botswana with a concentration of plains game and all the predators. Two large tents, make up the main areas for dining, bar, and lounge. The nine luxurious guest tents are raised on wooden decks facing the floodplain and shaded by giant Jackalberry trees. Each tent features an indoor and outdoor shower, indoor tub, private deck and plunge pool, an Olympus camera, lenses, and a pair of binoculars for use during your stay.

Photo: David Crookes

Little Mombo Camp

Little Mombo is all about privacy and perfect for honeymooners or families traveling together. The three tented guest rooms are a fair distance from the rest of the main camp and the communal areas overlook the spectacular plains. Built under a canopy of trees, each tent has its own private plunge pool and lounge area. A raised boardwalk connects to Mombo Camp. As a year-round, exclusive wildlife destination, Mombo has a record unequaled in Africa.

Photo: Xigera Camp

Xigera Camp

The new Xigera Safari Lodge opened in December of 2020, underneath a canopy of ancient, indigenous trees overlooking the floodplains of the Okavango Delta. The décor blends African design with unique luxury throughout the main areas as well as the 11 suites and one Family Suite. Conservation and sustainability are taken to new levels at Xigera which is fully solar-powered and single-use plastic-free. The experienced team is lead by Mike Myers, an African-born legendary guide, and his wife Marian. In addition to memorable game viewing and outstanding birding, guests can enjoy gliding through the tranquil channels in a glass-bottomed mokoro, a sleepout in The Baobab Treehouse, scenic helicopter flights, and extensive spa and wellness offerings.

Okavango Delta

Experiencing this unique wetland paradise in the midst of the Kalahari Desert is the best reason to visit Botswana. The Okavango Delta is a large inland delta system that drains into the sands of the Kalahari drawing wildlife year-round. The view of the Delta from the skies above as you fly into your camp airstrip is an awesome one. When water levels permit, you will be able to safari by boat and mokoro in addition to game drives.

Photo: Mickey Hoyle

Abu Camp

Abu is a complete immersion into the natural environment of the African elephant. This is a camp for those wanting the ultimate elephant educational safari. The Abu Herd members are eloquent ambassadors for elephant conservation, and several elephants have been reintroduced to the wild, where they continue to provide valuable data to local researchers and conservationists. Guests will observe elephants up close in the wild and get to know their individual personalities. Stay in one of the six en-suite luxury tents with outdoor copper bath and plunge pool sunk into the teak deck. We can pre-book your sleep out in the elevated Star Bed where you will be lulled to sleep by elephant rumblings. By the time you leave, you will feel a special, emotional connection to the Abu herd.

Photo: Caroline Culbert

Chitabe Camp

Chitabe is often recognized as the “Soul of the Delta” with a loyal and passionate team. This private concession is famed for its incredible numbers and diversity of wildlife. With the endangered African Wild Dog being a personal focus of the camp, day game drives give guests an opportunity to view buffalo, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, hippo, lion, leopard, and zebra; whereas night game drives give guests a glimpse into the rarer nocturnal animals in the area. The eight Meru-style tents are raised on wooden decks under large, shady trees. Each tent has twin beds, en-suite facilities and indoor and outdoor showers.

Photo: Dave Hamman

Chitabe Lediba Camp

Chitabe Lediba is on the same island as the nearby Chitabe Camp, and offers a much more intimate experience, for small groups or families. Guests can enjoy the multitude of wildlife that comes to drink by day from the comfort of the lagoon, or “lediba” in Setswana. There are just five en-suite tents with two of them being family units with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. All tents are built on raised decks offering views of the Delta.

Photo: Great Plains Conservation

Duba Plains Camp

This is the home of National Geographic filmmakers, conservationists and explorers, Derek and Beverly Joubert. The camp was rebuilt in 2017 and designed by Derek to blend into the forest. The camp features five spaciously bespoke tents set on recycled railway-sleeper decking. All units have private plunge pools, rosewood decks, inside and outside showers, sumptuous bath, outside sala bed, a Canon camera and a pair of Swarovski binoculars to use while you are there. Duba Plains Suite is an exquisite two-bedroom tented villa with two plunge pools, indoor and outdoor showers. This is a wildlife connoisseur’s dream! The 81,000-acre reserve supports a stunning array of wildlife which is there for the guests of Duba Plains and Duba Explorers Camp exclusively. Children ages 8+ are welcome.

Photo: Great Plains Conservation

Duba Explorers Camp

Made famous by Dereck and Beverly Joubert's National Geographic film, Relentless Enemies, the Duba Reserve offers an idyllic experience on this private 81,000-acre reserve. Set on an island surrounded by the Okavango Delta, the camp features five stylish tents on raised decks with verandahs provide viewing sweeping views of the floodplain. The specially designed "puddle-jumper" Toyota Land Cruiser game drive vehicles used here and are equipped with camera mounts and can travel through high water levels. Guided walks, game drives, mokoro and boating as water levels permit, are on offer here. Elephant, hippo, lions, leopards and African wild dogs are spotted frequently.

Photo: Dana Allen

Vumbura Plains

Vumbura Plains Camp is an outstanding example of Botswana’s innovative and sustainable approach to tourism working to benefit local villages and communities in partnership with the Okavango Community Trust. Vumbura Plains offers a high concentration of predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog offering an excellent wildlife experience on both land and water.

Photo: Dana Allen

Little Vumbura Camp

Little Vumbura is situated on a secluded island, reachable only by boat, on the northern reaches of the Delta. Surrounded by water and lying close to large rivers, mokoros give guests a chance to glide through waterways whereas game drives by land allow guests to get close to animals in the savannah.

Photo: &Beyond

Nxabega Camp

The wide-open channels of the Delta spread out in front of this stunning camp where guests adventure by land and by water. Nxabega, meaning “Place of the Giraffe,” boasts light, airy interiors and the nine tented suites with breathtaking views of the floodplain and all of its passing wildlife from private verandas. Families can be accommodated in two multi-generational tents connected by a covered walkway. The main camp includes stylish lounging and dining areas and a swimming pool.

Photo: &Beyond

Sandibe

Situated on a private concession in the magnificent Okavango Delta, Sandibe boasts exclusive traversing rights over a vast stretch of land adjacent to the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve. The twelve elegant suites are elevated above the landscape and feature magnificent Delta views, as well as private plunge pools, cozy fireplaces and secluded nooks. Built with a commitment to treading lightly on the earth results in an organic architecture that blends seamlessly with the landscape.

Photo: &Beyond

Xaranna

Xaranna is a wonderfully airy camp with just nine sleek en-suite safari tents on its own Delta island within a 62,000-acre exclusive wildlife concession. Your days are filled an array of activities from guided walking safaris, to interpretive game drives, eco-boat cruises and traditional mokoro excursions. Guests can also experience the unique landscape of the Okavango Delta on a half or full day horse-riding adventure, providing an opportunity to venture up close to the Delta’s spectacular wildlife and bird species.

Photo: Carol Oken

Baines' Camp

With just five suites, this intimate camp is built on raised platforms high above the Boro River in a private area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Your bed can be wheeled out onto your private deck for a night under the stars. And you’ll want to indulge in the star bath which is a real highlight. Game drives, seasonal mokoro and boat excursions are on offer.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is bordered by the Linyanti River on the north and Chobe National Park in the east. The Kwando River comes from the Angola highlands, flowing through Zambia and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia before becoming the Linyanti River. More than half of the Savute Channel is included in the reserve. Between 1980 and 2008 the channel was dry and much of the area was open grassland, home to a wide variety of animals. During 2008, the Savute Channel flowed, creating a water source that rapidly filled with aquatic life, wide varieties of water birds and hippo. Unlike the watery Delta, this area is grassland, woodlands and marsh areas along the Linyanti River. The dry winter months here bring large herds of elephants and zebra to the river.

Photo: Dana Allen

DumaTau Camp

This camp will close in November 2019 for a complete rebuild and is scheduled to reopen in August 2020. This location is a prime spot for wildlife viewing along the entire Linyanti and Savute Channel. DumaTau sits between two ancient elephant corridors. The new plans call for the addition of a sister camp called Little DumaTau. Both properties will be premiere luxury camps.

Photo: Crookes & Jackson

King's Pool Camp

Visited by the King of Sweden decades ago, and redone in 2019, this spectacularly luxurious camp overlooks the Kings Pool Lagoon and the Linyanti River to give guests several opportunities to experience the fascinating birds and game that visit the nearby swamps. There are eight rooms and one suite with wrap around screens to make guests one with nature. King’s Pool Camp’s location at the end of the Great Rift Valley is truly extraordinary. The scenic helicopter flights soar along the fault line and out over the Linyanti wetlands to the river. The camp’s underground hide gives guests a water level view of elephants cooling off in the afternoon.

Photo: Dana Allen

Savuti Camp

This playful camp is situated about ten miles downstream from the source of the Savute Channel and has a high concentration of plains wildlife. The highlight of Savuti is the waterhole close to camp where you can view large numbers of animals, while enjoying afternoon tea on the shaded deck or in an open-air 4x4 Land Rover.

Selinda Reserve

This 320,000-acre private wildlife reserve straddles both the Okavango Delta in the west and the Linyanti wetlands and savannahs in the east. The reserve is rich in game and famous for its low tourist density, which offers a peaceful and private wildlife-viewing experience. There are still places in this reserve where no person has ever set foot before. The Selinda Reserve follows the course of the Selinda Spillway as it connects the Okavango Delta to the Linyanti and Kwando river systems. The Selinda Spillway is a river that can flow in two directions, depending on where the water levels are the highest.

Photo: Great Plains Conservation

Selinda Camp

The new Selinda Camp opened in 2019. The design pays homage to its setting on the banks of the Selinda Spillway an ancient waterway which flows in two directions. The private Selinda Reserve measures more than 320,000 acres of pristine wilderness which is home to thousands of elephants and regular sightings of the Selinda pack of African wild dogs and the Selinda Lion pride featured in the National Geographic film “Birth of a Pride” by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. There are just three expansive guest tents with verandas and swimming pools. The Selinda Suite has two-bedrooms, a private safari guide and vehicle, chef and house manager. Children ages 8+ are welcome.

Photo: Great Plains Conservation

Selinda Explorers Camp

This intimate camp for up to ten guests is designed in the romantic style of the early explorers and set on the banks of a remote stretch of the Selinda Spillway. Activities concentrate on getting back to nature with guided walking and canoeing when water levels permit; and day and night game drives to showcase huge herds of elephants and buffalo. Children ages 6+ are welcome.

Photo: Great Plains Conservation

Zarafa Camp

Botswana’s first Relais & Chateau property overlooks the Zibadianja Lagoon. Each of the four tented villas sit on raised decking and feature Lamu doors, copper claw-foot baths, private plunge pools and outdoor showers. Zarafa maintains the perfect balance between luxury, romance and adventure and the camp has no equal when it comes to its environmental credentials. The Selinda Reserve is home to leopard, lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, red lechwe, zebra and giraffe. Activities include day and evening game viewing in open 4x4 vehicles, guided walks and cruising on the lagoon when water levels permit. The camp also has a gym and spa.

Kalahari & Makgadikgadi

The saltpans of the Makgadikgadi are the remains of an ancient super lake and provide a striking contrast to the Okavango Delta. Spending a few days here and in the Kalahari grasslands will give you an appreciation for the diversity of Botswana wilderness. You’ll see the animals, birds and vegetation of the desert and have the opportunity to experience the San Bushmen, who’ve inhabited this area for over 30,000 years.

Photo: David Crookes

Jack’s Camp

Situated in the heart of Makgadikgadi, Jack’s Camp, originally established in the 60’s by the legendary Jack Bousfield, is truly like nowhere else on earth. Guests explore the astonishingly beautiful wilderness by foot with the San Bushmen, on quad bikes, 4x4 safari vehicles with expert guides, or on an adventurous horseback ride. Completely rebuilt in 2021, the property’s enduring and much-loved 1940s campaign style remains. The spacious guest tents, seven twins and two doubles, feature overhead bed cooling system, ensuite bathrooms, both indoor and outdoor showers, and a private plunge pool on the veranda. The main areas include the renowned Natural History Museum, library, antique pool table and nomadic Persian tea tent.

Photo: Uncharted Africa Safari Co.

San Camp

On approach, San Camp appears as a smattering of billowing white tents shaded by desert palms and surrounded by a thousand acres of shimmering salt pans. There are seven en-suite guest tents and a charming tea tent, a yoga pavilion, and a magnificent mess tent containing a small natural history museum. You can hang out with a gang of habituated, but wild meerkats, and gaze with awe at the enormous baobab trees that have stood here for centuries. Explore the vast Makgadikgadi on a thrilling horseback ride or quad bikes. San Camp operates from mid-April to mid-October.

Photo: Unchartered Africa Safari Co.

Camp Kalahari

Tucked away on Brown Hyena Island, guests can take in the stark beauty of the Kalahari region from this camp that was rebuilt in 2013. Daily adventures can range from: guided walks with Bushmen trackers, scenic nature drives to Green’s Baobab and Horse Safaris to get up close and personal with meerkats and other wildlife.

Photo: Dana Allen

Kalahari Plains Camp

This camp is situated in a remote part of the diverse Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers some of the best summer wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. Short grasses sprout in the pan systems and fossil riverbeds attract a plethora of plains game which converge by the hundreds to graze. Wildebeest, steenbok and red hartebeest join in the feast, and all these are followed by predators such as lion, cheetah, and jackal.

Travel Information

When to go to Botswana

The months of May to November are the dry season and considered by some to be the best time to safari in Botswana. Temperatures in June and July are the coolest with daytime highs reaching 75 F. October is hot with 90 F days. Rains generally begin in December with January and February being the wettest months.

Passport & Visa for Botswana

A passport valid for six months beyond the date of entry is required to enter Botswana. Visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days.

For further information:

The Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C.

U.S. State Department - Botswana

Traveling with Children

All children under the age of 18 traveling to or departing from Botswana are required to carry a certified copy of their birth certificate along with their passport. Additional requirements are necessary in the event of a child travelling:
- With one parent
- With someone who is not their parent i.e. family member or friend
- With their adopted parents
- As an unaccompanied minor

Medical Information for Botswana

Before traveling to Africa, please consult with your physician. If you are traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever or a country with an active yellow fever outbreak, you will be required to show proof the vaccination. Otherwise, no other immunizations are required. You will need a malaria prophylaxis.

For further information:

Official Botswana Tourism Website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Botswan